Niandra LaDes And Usually Just A T-Shirt is the first solo record by John Frusciante. Between 1990 and 1992 the guitarist made a series of 4-track recordings, which at the time were not intended for commercial release. After leaving the band Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1992, Frusciante was encouraged by friends to release the material that he wrote in his spare time during the Blood Sugar Sex Magik sessions. Originally released on Rick Rubin's American Recordings label in 1994, Niandra LaDes is a mystifying work of tortured beauty.

Frusciante plays various acoustic and electric guitars, experimenting with layers of vocals, piano and reverse tape effects. Channeling the ghosts of Syd Barrett and Skip Spence, his lyrics are at once utterly personal and willfully opaque. Frusciante's rapidfire, angular playing shows how key he was in the Chili Peppers' evolution away from their funk-rock roots. His cover of "Big Takeover" perfectly deconstructs the Bad Brains original with laid-back tempo, twelve-string guitar and a fierce handle on melody. The album's second part – 13 untitled tracks that Frusciante defines as one complete piece, "Usually Just A T-Shirt" – contains several instrumentals featuring his signature guitar style. Sparse phrasing, delicate counterpoint and ethereal textures recall Neu/Harmonia's Michael Rother or The Durutti Column's Vini Reilly.

On the front cover, Frusciante appears in 1920s drag – a nod to Marcel Duchamp's alter-ego Rrose Sélavy – which comes from Toni Oswald's film Desert in the Shape. This first-time vinyl release has been carefully remastered and approved by the artist. The double LP set is packaged with old style tip-on gatefold jacket and printed inner sleeves.

Connect With Us

Music Direct - Free Shipping Policy

Place a qualifyingorderover $49* and receive FREE DOMESTIC GROUND SHIPPING.When your order subtotal reaches $49 in the shopping cart the shipping charge for associated qualifying items will automatically be adjusted on your order. If you continue to see a shipping charge on your order, please check the exclusions listed below.

*Ground shipping to the 48 contiguous states only (FPO/APO excluded).
**Orders must be at least $49, before tax, to qualify.
This offer also excludes Oppo, demos, closeouts/sale items and freight shipped items.
This offer cannot be applied to previously placed orders.
Music Direct reserves the right to select the carrier and ship method within the terms of this offer.
Music Direct reserves the right to change the terms of this promotion or discontinue this offer at any time.
This offer is not included on any shipments to FPO/APO addresses. Music Direct will contact you with shipping charges for these addresses.
Customers can choose an alternative expedited shipping method but it will not qualify for this free shipping offer.
Music Direct will not charge additional shipping for any back orders items. Orders will be held to ship all back ordered items together when they are all received in stock.

Please Note: Orders that are less than $99 are not guaranteed to ship via FedEx. The ground shipping method used will be determined at Music Direct's discretion. Average ground delivery time ranges from 7-14 business days. Music Direct does not guarantee delivery within that specified time period.

Your 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee

We strive for 100% customer satisfaction with every order and back it up with our 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Should you have an issue of any kind, rest assured we're here to make it right! We stand behind every product we sell and offer free live support if you need assistance setting-up, troubleshooting, or maximizing your purchase. We also have a variety of resources available to customers including: